Language Barriers Often Keep Latinos from Being Home Owners

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Where people live determines a great deal; it impacts education, income, access to resources, and overall health. Home ownership is often a great source of pride for many individuals, including Latinos.

However, many Latinos often run into significant barriers that keep them from becoming homeowners. One of the main barriers is language.

Often times, Latinos are unable to find Spanish-language or even bilingual information that could help them in the home buying process.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota (3.31% Latino population), Spanish-language home-buyer education classes have been started by the Sioux Empire Housing Partnership to encourage the growing Latino population to become home owners, the Sioux City Journal reports.
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The group now offers Spanish-language versions of their courses (including debt management and the ins and outs of renting) as well as translations of most of the public documents needed to purchase a home.

“[Many Latinos] don’t know about the programs [that can help home owners],” said Yesenia Gonzalez, an education specialist for the Partnership. “Sioux Falls is rich with programs.”

Gonzalez took it upon herself to translate many of the documents that are available online herself.

She and her fellow counselors work directly with families on the home buying process and has helped create more workshops through partnerships with area agencies.

“[We saw] the need so we decided to fill it,” Gonzalez said.

Learn more about the link between housing and health for Latinos in these stories:

  • NY to implement $1.4 bil. plan to improve health & poverty rates in Bklyn. #SaludAmerica #HealthEquity http://salud.to/2mMcPBH
  • A new report shows the benefits of economically diverse neighborhoods for #Latinos. #SaludAmerica http://salud.to/2noSweh
  • Income, health & employment disparities are growing in LA! #SaludAmerica #HealthEquity http://salud.to/2lV9WL3

By The Numbers By The Numbers

142

Percent

Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years

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